CHAP. X.] COOK'S STRAITS. 189 



cone of Taranaki. This belt of land consists of 

 light sandy soil near the sea-coast, not wooded, but 

 capable of cultivation. This open land is three or 

 four miles in breadth, at which distance from the 

 sea the wood begins, and the soil becomes more sub- 

 stantial and rich. Fern and flax, which usually 

 characterise the vegetation of open districts in New 

 Zealand, are also found here, but are intermixed 

 with some juicy shrubs, plants, and also some species 

 of grass. Cattle and horses, if allowed a wide range, 

 would find sufficient food, although it cannot pro- 

 perly be called a grazing district. 



Many rivers discharge themselves into Cook's 

 Straits. Their number is indeed so great, from 

 Port Nicholson along the western coast, that they 

 constitute a feature peculiar to New Zealand. None 

 of these rivers can admit ships of the largest ton- 

 nage, but several are navigable for vessels of moderate 

 burden, and offer great facilities for internal com- 

 munications. The Manawatu, the Wanganui, the 

 Patea, and the Mokau are the most important of 

 them. The harbours connected with this district, 

 and fitted to receive the larger vessels, are Port 

 Nicholson and Kawia ; the former is by far the best. 

 The prosperity of Wellington, which is situated at 

 Port Nicholson, and is the capital of the New Zea- 

 land Company, depends chiefly on the agricultural 

 resources of this district, upon the early construc- 

 tion of roads to connect it with the town, and 

 upon the employment of steam-boats drawing little 



